VIA Announced VN896 Chipset for Notebooks and UMPCs

VIA Technologies today announced the launch of the VIA VN896 Digital Media IGP Chipset, designed for use in notebooks and ultra-mobile PCs. The VN896 chipset incorporates the VIA Chrome9 HC IGP (integrated graphics processor) featuring a DirectX 9.0 and is “Vista Basic-ready” certified.

The new chipset supports VIA C7-M mobile processors as well as Intel Pentium M, Core Solo, Core Duo and Core 2 Duo CPUs. It has 800/667/533/400 MHz front-side bus, and includes two PCI Express ports: one 16-lane PCI Express and one single lane port. The VN896 can be used with DDR2 667/533/400 or DDR 400/333 main memory, with a maximum of 4GB.

VIA VN896 also features versatile LCD panel, CRT and TV-out support, to as high as 1080i high definition, while separate display engines enable two outputs to display at the same time, with different information at different resolutions, pixel depths and refresh rates, according to VIA.

“By passing the Microsoft Windows Vista 32bit/64bit Basic logo tests, customers can integrate the VIA VN896 PCI Express chipset into their products with the assuredness of digitally signed drivers and trouble-free installation of Microsoft Windows Vista, including Ultimate, Enterprise, Business, Home Premium and Home Basic editions,” the company announced.

Press Release

Thanks for actually publishing wich versions of Vista were capable, of being installed with this chipset. You are the first person/site/group I have found that states it.

I’m not sure.
While it does state that all drivers will work and that the installation will be trouble-free, I don’t think the on-board graphics card supports Aero.
Which would be neccesary to make it Vista Home Premium (and thus also Ultimate) Ready.